Many home and business owners find that storage units are the ideal solution to a variety of problems, from cramped residences to disorganized offices. While they can provide a safe place to keep everything from sensitive electronics and office equipment to clothing and furniture, there are some things they simply aren’t suited for. Here are some commonsense guidelines on what not to put in your unit.

These 4 Items Shouldn’t Stay in Your Storage Unit

1. Food

While canned foods are generally fine in most self-storage facilities, anything perishable should stay out. These items will eventually spoil, and even if you plan to retrieve them quickly, extreme weather could always speed up the process. Food also attracts pests and creates the perfect conditions for mold growth, which can spoil your other belongings and impact the rest of the facility.

2. Scented Substances

Anything with a strong smell, like candles or soap, should not be kept in an enclosed space with other items. The scent will eventually spread, affecting all your other possessions. Even if you like the smell, this can still ruin some items and detract from the value of others.

3. Weapons & Explosives

This is a matter of legality as well as common sense. In an enclosed space, even a tiny explosion can be dangerous, and you never know what conditions might arise that could ignite fireworks or gunpowder. That’s why the law in most regions prohibits explosives from being stored in public buildings by private citizens, even if the items are your private property.

4. Medicines & Toxic Substances

Medicines, cleaning supplies, and other chemicals can all become hazardous in the wrong conditions. Those conditions include the heat or cold that a unit might subject them to. It’s also possible that they’ll get forgotten in storage, in which case they’ll likely go bad at best, and at worse they’ll leak from their containers, spread to nearby materials, and attract pests, just like foodstuffs.

If you’re looking for storage units in the greater Anchorage area, consider International Self Storage. Since 1987, this facility has provided for their clients’ needs by offering secure heated and unheated storage for personal possessions. They also offer convenient, competitively priced airport parking from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Learn more by visiting them online or calling (907) 563-3287.